A takeaway boss in Brierley Hill has been landed with a £3,280 court bill for a string of hygiene failings.

Dudley Council’s environmental health inspectors gave Kings takeaway in High Street a zero hygiene rating - the lowest rating possible.

Inspectors made a routine visit to the premises in May last year and found that floors, walls, ceilings, storage containers, microwaves and refrigerators were not kept clean and that equipment including a chopping board, frying baskets and refrigerators were damaged. Staff were not wearing clean protective clothing, were not trained and there was no soap or hand drying facilities provided at wash hand basins.

The takeaway ceased trading in July 2017. Boss Amir Rizwan, aged 38, pleaded guilty to nine offences under food hygiene regulations at Wolverhampton magistrates court on April 5. Magistrates ordered fines totalling £2,250 and awarded costs of £1,000 and a victim surcharge of £30. Martin Samuels, strategic director for people services at Dudley Council, said:

“Whilst we prefer to work with businesses to make sure they comply with the law, we will not hesitate to take legal action against those who don’t. The vast majority of food outlets in the borough achieve a satisfactory hygiene rating of 3 or more. In fact, more than half are achieving the top hygiene rating of 5.

"I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give them a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop.”

Dudley Council environmental health officers carry out regular inspections of food premises in the borough to advise food business owners and ensure they meet all food safety and hygiene requirements.

Ratings in Dudley can be viewed online at dudley.gov.uk/foodsafety.